DATE: Friday, September 19, 1997            TAG: 9709210314

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAM LOWNEY, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   81 lines

GOSPEL SINGING EXPECTED TO DRAW HUNDREDS TO CONVENTION

There are several reasons a singer might enjoy performing gospel music - the fellowship, the soulful emotion, the sound of voices raised in melodic praise.

But for Norman Warden Jr., who devotes his life to singing and promoting gospel music, the attraction is at once simpler and more powerful than any of those.

``It's the message,'' said the Hertford resident. ``A G chord is the same in gospel and country and rock 'n' roll. But the words are different. The Lord calls me to gospel.''

Warden is the organizer of Saturday's 10th annual Gospel Singing Convention at The Gospel Park, on U.S. Highway 17 South between Elizabeth City and Hertford. Admission is free for the family event, which will feature noncompetitive singing from 1 to 4 p.m. and amateur talent competitions from 4 to 10 p.m.

Warden said good weather could bring as many as 500 spectators and at least 20 contestants. Judges will award trophies in junior and senior divisions with categories ``from solo to choir.''

In past years, gospel music enthusiasts have traveled from as far as Florida, Alabama, West Virginia and Ohio.

Warden also serves as president of the nonprofit, nondenominational Albemarle Gospel Music Association. The group is the sponsor of the convention and owner of the 12-acre park. He conceived the idea for the park in the mid-1980s and has been its chief developer and caretaker.

``We used to have singings at a truck pull track in Chapanoke,'' a nearby crossroads, he said. ``Then people started making donations for a park. We built the whole park on $10, $15, $20 donations. We did a little bit at a time and paid as we went.''

The landscaped park hosts camp meetings, picnics and another gospel singing convention each May. It provides campsites, restrooms, showers, refreshments, bleachers and sound equipment. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

SPECIAL EVENTS AND FUND RAISERS

This weekend and the next several weeks are jammed with special

events and fund raisers. Here's a look at some of the activities

through the first week of October:

Saturday:

Big Sweep: An annual waterway, roadside and park cleanup

sponsored locally by the Pasquotank County Keep America Beautiful

Committee. Volunteers may obtain heavy-duty gloves and trash bags

beginning at 8 a.m. at the county recyling headquarters on McPherson

Street. The cleanup ends at 1 p.m., and a picnic follows at the

Coast Guard base. For more information, call 335-4105.

Walk for Life: Sponsored by the Albemarle Crisis Pregnancy

Center. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m., the walk at 10 a.m. at

three locations - Hobbs Park in Elizabeth City, Hertford Baptist

Church in Hertford and Waterfront Park in Edenton. Call 338-1655.

Saturday and Sunday:

A Day on the River: Featuring the Moth Boat Regatta and

Waterfront Arts Festival. The regatta take place on the Pasquotank

River Saturday, the art show and live entertainment on the

waterfront Saturday and Sunday.

Sept. 26 and 27:

Home Show 1997: Sponsored by the Home Builders Association of

Northeastern North Carolina and the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of

Commerce. View building, remodeling, decorating, landscaping and

financing exhibits Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10

a.m. to 6 p.m. at Knobbs Creek Recreation Center. Call 338-8443 or

335-4365.

Sept. 27:

Friskies Run for the Animals: 5k and 10k races to benefit the

SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina. The events will start and

finish at Charles Creek Park. Registration begins at 7 a.m., the 5k

at 8:30 a.m. and the 10k at 9:30 a.m. Call 338-5222.

Oct. 2:

Golf Outing: To raise money for Girls Inc. of the Albemarle

educational programs. The tournament begins at 1 p.m. at The Sound

Golf Links, Albemarle Plantation, Hertford. Call 335-7346.

The Virginian-Pilot will publish a monthly preview of major

events of general interest to Elizabeth City area readers. Please

mail details to the Elizabeth City office, 303 E. Main St., phone

338-1334. The deadline the October preview is 24.

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